10+ Sandwich Recipes to Brighten Up Your Lunch Routine

Sandwiches are such an easy, tasty way to enjoy a quick meal—anytime, really. You can mix and match breads, fillings, and toppings to suit whatever mood you’re in.

Hot or cold, classic or new, sandwiches just have this endless flexibility. There’s always a combo out there to hit the spot.

Making your own sandwiches means you get to control the flavors and ingredients. You can keep things healthy or go all in—totally up to you.

With just a few kitchen staples, you can put together a delicious bite that’s easy to carry or share. Sometimes that’s all you need.

Ingredients

• Bread (any kind you like)
• Fillings: meats, cheeses, veggies—whatever you’re feeling
• Condiments: mayo, mustard, spreads, you name it

Cooking Instructions

1. Pick your bread and slice it, if needed.
2. Layer your fillings on one slice.
3. Slather on condiments—either on the other slice or inside.
4. Press together and, if you want, grill or toast at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes until it’s warm and crispy.

1) Classic Grilled Cheese with Cheddar

The classic grilled cheese is simple but always delivers. Sharp cheddar melts beautifully and packs a punch.

Good bread makes a difference—sourdough or white sandwich bread both work. Buttering the outside of the bread gives you that golden, crispy crust everyone loves.

Cook it on medium heat so the cheese gets gooey without burning the bread. Patience pays off here.

If you’re in the mood, add a swipe of mustard or mayo inside for a little extra flavor. It’s a small thing, but it really elevates the sandwich.

Ingredients

• 2 slices sourdough or white bread
• 1 to 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated or sliced
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Optional: Dijon mustard or mayonnaise

Cooking Instructions

1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
2. Place one slice butter-side down in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add cheese evenly on top.
4. Top with the second slice, butter-side up.
5. Cook for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
6. Flip and cook the other side for about 3 minutes.
7. Let it rest for a minute, then dig in.

For more tips, check out Love and Lemons grilled cheese recipe.

2) Turkey Club Sandwich with Bacon

A Turkey Club Sandwich with Bacon is a classic, and honestly, it never gets old. Start with toasted bread for that crunch.

Add layers of turkey, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomato. Spread mayo on the bread for extra flavor.

You can stack it double or triple-decker style if you’re feeling ambitious. Red onion or whole grain bread makes a nice twist, too.

Ingredients

• 3 slices of bread, toasted
• 2–3 slices cooked turkey breast
• 2 slices cooked bacon
• 2 leaves lettuce
• 2 tomato slices
• 1–2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Cooking Instructions

1. Toast the bread until golden.
2. Spread mayonnaise on one side of each slice.
3. Layer turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on the first slice.
4. Add the second slice and repeat layers if you want.
5. Top with the last slice.
6. Cut in half and serve.

3) Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese

If you love spicy and cheesy, this one’s for you. Shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, melty cheese, and crispy bread—what’s not to like?

Cream cheese and sharp cheese (like pepper jack or cheddar) make the filling extra creamy and rich. The buffalo sauce brings the heat.

It’s a quick lunch or dinner—about 20 minutes, tops. And it’s a fun twist on the usual grilled cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked shredded chicken
• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
• 2 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack
• 2 slices bread
• 2 tbsp butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix chicken, buffalo sauce, and cream cheese in a bowl.
2. Spread that mixture on one bread slice.
3. Add shredded cheese, then top with the second slice.
4. Butter the outsides.
5. Heat a skillet over medium (about 325°F/165°C).
6. Cook 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cheese melts.
7. Slice and enjoy!

Find the full recipe here.

4) Patty Melt with Caramelized Onions

A patty melt brings together a juicy burger and sweet caramelized onions. Those onions really make it—rich, a little sweet, and so satisfying with melty cheese.

Cook the onions low and slow until golden. Add a burger patty and Swiss or American cheese.

Grill it all on sourdough or rye bread for that diner vibe. It’s easy to make at home and feels like comfort food.

Ingredients:

• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 12 tablespoons butter
• 8 slices sourdough or marble rye bread
• 4 burger patties
• 4 slices Swiss or American cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Melt 8 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-low.
2. Add onions and cook for 30 minutes, stirring often, until caramelized.
3. Season burger patties with salt and pepper.
4. Cook patties in another pan over medium for about 6 minutes.
5. Top patties with cheese in the last minute to melt.
6. Butter bread slices with the rest of the butter.
7. Layer onions and patties between bread, then grill until golden, about 3-4 minutes per side.
8. Serve warm.

Get more details at Caramelized Onion Patty Melts – Felix & Greg.

5) Fried Green Tomato BLT

Switch up the classic BLT by adding fried green tomatoes. They’re crunchy, tangy, and pair perfectly with bacon and lettuce.

Coat tomato slices in egg, milk, and cornmeal to get them crispy in the pan. Stack with bacon, lettuce, and mayo on your favorite bread.

It’s a fun way to make a BLT feel new. Super easy, too.

Ingredients

• 2 large green tomatoes
• 8 slices thick-cut bacon
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup cornmeal
• Lettuce leaves
• Mayonnaise
• Bread slices

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook bacon until crispy and drain.
2. Beat eggs with milk in a bowl.
3. Put cornmeal in another dish.
4. Dip tomato slices in egg mixture, then coat with cornmeal.
5. Fry tomatoes in hot oil until golden.
6. Build your sandwich with bacon, fried tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo.
7. Serve right away.

6) Avocado and Spicy Chicken Ciabatta

If you like a bit of heat, this one’s a winner. Spicy chicken and creamy avocado just work together.

Ciabatta gives it a good crunch—never too soft, never too chewy. Cook your chicken with chipotle seasoning or spicy mayo for a kick.

Add avocado, lettuce, and tomato for some freshness. It’s quick to make and always satisfying.

Adjust the spice level to your taste. Sometimes that’s half the fun.

Ingredients

• 1 ciabatta roll
• 1 cooked chicken breast (spicy seasoned or with chipotle mayo)
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• 1 tomato, sliced
• Lettuce leaves
• 2 tbsp spicy chipotle mayo

Cooking Instructions

1. Warm chicken (about 165°F / 74°C).
2. Slice ciabatta in half.
3. Spread spicy mayo on the bread.
4. Layer lettuce, tomato, chicken, and avocado.
5. Close it up and enjoy.

See a similar recipe here.

7) Ham and Swiss with Honey Mustard

This one’s as easy as it gets, but it never disappoints. Ham and Swiss are a classic combo, and honey mustard gives it a sweet, tangy kick.

Ciabatta rolls work great, but honestly, any bread will do. You can eat it cold or toast it until the cheese melts—totally your call.

Add lettuce and tomato for a little crunch and freshness. It’s a solid lunch or dinner choice.

Ingredients:

• 4 ciabatta rolls
• 16 slices ham
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1-2 tsp dried mustard
• 1 tsp poppy seeds (optional)
• Lettuce and tomato (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix mayo, honey, dried mustard, and poppy seeds for the sauce.
2. Spread sauce on each roll.
3. Layer ham and Swiss cheese.
4. Add lettuce and tomato if you want.
5. Close the sandwich.
6. Toast at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes if you want it warm.
7. Serve and enjoy!

For more, check out this honey mustard ham and cheese sandwich.

8) Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich

Pulled pork BBQ sandwiches—honestly, they’re just one of those things that hit the spot. You slow cook a pork shoulder or butt until it’s so tender you can shred it with forks.

The meat soaks up all those spices and barbecue sauce flavors. You can use a slow cooker or an Instant Pot to get that juicy, flavorful pork.

After cooking, just mix the pork with your favorite BBQ sauce for that sweet, tangy thing everyone loves. Serve it up on soft buns, maybe add coleslaw or pickles if you want a little crunch.

Ingredients

• 4 lbs pork shoulder or pork butt
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup BBQ dry rub
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups BBQ sauce
• Soft sandwich buns

Cooking Instructions

1. Rub the pork with mustard and BBQ dry rub.
2. Set the pork in a slow cooker and pour in the apple juice and vinegar.
3. Cook on low for 8-10 hours, until it’s tender (should reach about 200°F/93°C inside).
4. Shred the pork with two forks.
5. Stir in the BBQ sauce.
6. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

For more details, see BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

9) Brie and Mango Chutney Grilled Cheese

This grilled cheese brings together creamy Brie and sweet mango chutney. The rich Brie just melts perfectly, and the chutney adds a little tangy pop.

I like using sourdough or rye bread for a bit of chew and flavor. Spread a thin layer of mayo on the bread so it crisps up nicely.

Add several slices of Brie, then spoon on the mango chutney. Grill it on medium heat until the cheese melts and the bread turns golden.

It’s a great pick for lunch or a light dinner. If you want to jazz it up, toss in some baby spinach for a fresh bite.

Ingredients

• 2 slices sourdough or rye bread
• ½ to 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2½ ounces Brie cheese, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon mango chutney
• 1 tablespoon butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Spread mayo on one side of each bread slice.
2. Lay Brie slices on one slice of bread.
3. Spoon mango chutney over the Brie.
4. Close the sandwich with the other bread slice, mayo side in.
5. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
6. Grill the sandwich until the bread is golden and the cheese melts, about 3-4 minutes per side.
7. Let it cool for a minute before slicing and serving.

For more details, check out the Brie and Mango Chutney Grilled Cheese Recipe.

10) Egg Salad with Dill

Egg salad with dill puts a fresh spin on the classic. The dill gives it a bright, herby kick that makes the sandwich feel lighter.

It’s super easy to whip up, especially if you’ve got leftover hard-boiled eggs. You can pile it on bread, tuck it in a wrap, or just scoop it up with crackers.

The salad is creamy, with a little tang from mustard and lemon juice. Dill brings in that herbal note, but it doesn’t take over.

Most of these ingredients are probably already in your kitchen. It comes together fast—great for those days when you just need lunch, like, now.

Ingredients

• 8 hard-boiled eggs
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried dill weed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel the hard-boiled eggs. Chop them up into pieces you like.

2. Grab a bowl and toss in mayo, mustard, lemon juice, and dill.

3. Mix those together, then stir in the chopped eggs until they’re all nicely coated.

4. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper—taste as you go.

5. Chill the mixture, then pile it onto your favorite bread.

For more info, check out this egg salad with dill recipe.